We’re trying to have the laser on in one place, not moving, for a set amount of time, to create a single dot. Something that, AFAIK, should be possible with the G4 g-code, but it just skips the command. I haven’t really found any alternative way to do this, every code I’ve seen is using the G4. Cut-through option doesn’t work either when turned on, just works as if it was off. Is the F1 machine just unable to do this? I’ll be thankful for any pointers how to approach this.
Ps. I know very little about laser engraving, we’ve got access to this machine as a part of research. The end goal is to create an array of evenly spaced dots with set parameters of laser power and exposition time, which is why stopping the laser in one place is essential.
-What version of LightBurn
-What version of F1 firmware
-Have you followed the Xtool guide to configure it on LightBurn?
As per your question more exact.
Is possible to create a little DOT on Lightburn and engrave it even if it requires multiple passes to achieve the power delivery you require.
Not necessarily sure parsed typed in Gcode commands would work better as Xtool uses a translator layer between Gcode and their proprietary firmware.
Given the lack of standardization on this, it may be XTool uses units of seconds in the G4 command, while you’re thinking of milliseconds: the command does what you asked, but pauses by 1/1000 of the time you expect.
The GRBL dialect uses floating point seconds, while Marlin-ish G-Code can also use integer milliseconds with a different command word.
Of course, XTool may not have bothered to implement any commands they didn’t absolutely need, so the G-Code interpreter just skips right over it.
Another example of programming as an experimental science …
So if I send it a G4 command, expecting 40mS and the xTool thinks the units are in seconds, wouldn’t that end up being interpreted as 40 seconds or 1000 times the requested duration?
If the G4 command doesn’t seem to do anything, maybe the command syntax called for 1 second and XTool interpreted it (correctly or not) to delay for 1 millisecond, which would certainly look like it did nothing!
It’s a possible explanation, subject to experimental validation.
I’ve been drilling holes with an xtool D1. I solved the missing G04/dwell command by writing a synchronous python script to control the laser with gcode. Basic idea is to spam “?” to find if the laser movement has reached its destination, then starting and spamming burn for designated time, then finishing the burn with G0. It’s hacky but it can work.
With air assist on a 20W D1 pro I can drill neat holes about 15mm in depth (into pine).
